I would like to have Conan pass the CGC test. We do marker training right now, and he's pretty solid on his sits and downs but I haven't been able to get much else accomplished. I can barely get him to stay and haven't even gotten the command on him yet. The funny part to me is that when we walk into the sheep pen, he won't go after them until I give him the okay. But throwing a ball? That sit is broken the nanosecond it leaves my hand. If I'm training him with food he'll sit/down until I mark it. I think the ball is too much distraction for him, but not the sheep for some reason.

I contacted some local trainers to see about basic obedience classes and CGC prep but haven't heard back from any of them (it's been a few weeks).

So, my question is, can I do this by myself? Just me, my dog, and my Leerburg Basic Dog Obedience and The Power of Training Dogs with Markers? I don't have the marker dvd yet but it's my first after Christmas buy. I get the feeling I'm doing a lot wrong, since this is the first training I've done with a dog myself, and would like some sort of guidance from everyone.

Where do I start? How do I do it? What else do I need? Anything, please!

I'm in So. CA too and I've actually talked to a couple of the CGC evaluators in my area. They say you can absolutely pass it without classes. Do you have the CGC book that is written by Jack and Wendy Volhard? It teaches you everything you need to know and describes exactly what the test will consist of. There are a few trainers around here that will glad come to your house and charge you a fortune to help you train, but that does not guarantee passing either! If you go to the AKC CGC website they have a link that takes you to evaluators in your area, that's how I found them.

Thanks! I didn't even know there was a book. I'll have to get it. I contacted trainers who did private and group classes, I was gonna go for group haha. $350 was the general private fee and I'm a poor college student.

Hopefully with that book and those DVDs I won't have too hard a time.

Leerburg actually sells that book - here's the link
http://leerburg.com/978.htm

You can get the CGC Participant's Handbook here for free to get a feel for what to expect.

You most definitely can do it without a class. IME it really isn't much of a training challenge. It requires some basic obedience and manners but is very informal. I tested with my dog when he was nine months old so my biggest concern was the 'stay' with all the distractions of the new place and all the dogs around. He vibrated a lot, but he stayed put:-)

It was really a lot of fun

Thanks! I'll give them both a read. I'm gonna make it my goal over winter break. I'll see how far we cen get in 5 weeks, because I've slacked off a little bit. It's been a rough semester. I'm excited though, it will really be a test of my skills more than anything.

I agree with others; you can definately take and pass the CGC without a preparation class series or personal lessons.

Read up on the individual test components and train for them -- and add in distraction training at various public locations and you should be all set.

Good luck! That's a great winter training goal!

Katie

Thanks Katie!

I just bought the Volhard book and am going to read the free handbook Kristel posted. It should be easy but I'm such a newb to training I need all the help I can get! We have plenty of parks, both crowded and empty, so it should work out well! I'm mostly worried about his reaction to other dogs. He got nasty with a Schnauzer at our herding lessons a while ago. But the dog (and his owner) didn't seem to have any sort of idea about personal space and I think Conan got fed up with it. But on a walk a while back there was a dog going psycho behind a fence, and he got nasty with that one too. Maybe he didn't like those dogs. He lives with my roommate's dog and they've never had problems and he's very friendly with our friend's and family's dogs.

Hopefully all goes well!

Hi!

I like the Volhard book. Very good ideas about leadership (being the pack leader). Everything comes out of that leadership, I think.

I starting using "Leave It!" as a command to keep my dog from going to another dog and generally when I wanted him to stop something. I originally used it just to keep him from getting food off the floor but "Leave It!" seemed to transfer very well into "Forget about what you were going to do!"

My wife and I took one or two CGC oriented classes (group classes) and they are fine. We have also taken dogs through CGC testing without a class. I do not feel the need to have the class after obedience training our dogs for 19 years and I think most people who can train at all can do CGC without classes. My opinion, anyway.

One thing that really helps us is to completely relax and listen VERY carefully to the evaluator so we are comfortable taking the test. The calmness seems to flow down the leash to the dog -- nervousness does, too, unfortunately!

My wife is currently certiied with four of our seven dogs (and TDI, too) while I am certified with three. We are working on the others so we hope to each be certified with seven dogs.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

Christopher Walter

Thanks Christopher! That's very helpful. I really need to teach a "leave it" command. I think we can do this no problem with the help here on the board and in that book. I really can't wait to get the book, it's on its way in the mail!

I think you're right about the leadership part of it - I've been working hard on it, but it's tough living with a roommate who will never be a pack leader (or even care to try). I can't wait until I can afford being on my own!